Gary-Summer: March 13, 2019 - Million Dollar Mile to Stevenson Falls

Wednesday, March 13, 2019

March 13, 2019 - Million Dollar Mile to Stevenson Falls

Title: March 13, 2019 - Million Dollar Mile to Stevenson Falls
Hike Info : Description : Extra Photo's :

Trail head: Italian Bar Road

Hike Info:

Type: Hiking

Trail: Million Dollar Mile Road

Destination: Stevenson Falls

Distance: 7.07 miles ¹

Moving Time: 2:55 (2.4 mph)

Elevation Rise: 1,161'

Descent: 1,288‘

Maximum Elevation: 2,338'

¹Sigh, GPS went bonkers again. So the miles is from the GPS screen, not the tracks. Elevation is from what Google Earth said.

Description:

Tomorrow I have a procedure-yeah one of those kind of things. So I need to fast today. We shall see how well I do. John and Cathey’s start time is too early for Sherri, so she decided to take that REI hashtag literally-too #opt-out. Oh yeah, this is also a meetup hike as well.

Clouds over Redinger

We gather in Fresno at 7:00 and are off. Oz is travelling with me as we both will be going straight back to Fresno after the hike. But first a trip to the Exact Center of California. You might ask, where is that? That would be at 37^o 9’58.23”N 119^o 26’58.29”W. Or just a little southeast of the town of North Fork, just off of Italian Bar Road. How did someone come up with this? Well, you will need to read about it yourself.

After toasting our arrival, we continue on down Italian Bar Road, crossing the San Joaquin River and up the Fresno County side until we reach a hairpin turn. This is our trail-head. The gate blocking off the Million Dollar Mile road so that the only vehicles are Southern California Edison (SCE) going down the road-and maybe a few bikes.

Jose Creek

Jose Creek is just a quarter mile down the road. It is flowing about as full as I have ever seen it. I quickly migrate to the back of the pack. There I find that John has a new friend, also named John. We go along pretty well.

Did I say that I am walking with tennis shoes instead of boots? Mostly because I suspect I may be zonking out before this is over. The lightness of the shoes will help me. Besides, this is a paved road. not too much chance of twisting an ankle or something like that.

We go over the penstocks which feed the powerhouses. Then shortly afterwards we come across an adit. The other John does not know what an adit is, so I go into my spiel about adits. He is impressed. Also the waterfall coming over the opening lends an air of being exotic.

Waterfall over an Adit

Little falls on side of road

And on we go. There is water coming down in several places, but one forms a miniature waterfall right by the road. Here John, John, and I pick up another hiker, Bob who looks like he is a lot more serious about his photography than I am. I wonder what he sees, so I study him a bit and realize that he is looking at a little waterfall and taking it with an extended exposure. So after he finishes up, I try to see what I can do. It turns out I have some success. Another skill to develop (sometimes the puns just come out.),

Stevenson Falls

And now we start seeing people returning from Stevenson Falls. They report that the bridge is impassable-our anticipation mounts. We pass by some others who are waiting for us and now we turn and start seeing the water rushing down the shear granite rock face. We only see about 200’ of the drop. The total drop is about 1,200’. So by the time we see the falls, the water is exploding on its course to the San Joaquin River. The flow of water is regulated by SCE. This is a heavy rainfall year so SCE is making room for additional water for the Spring runoff. The effect is an amazing throbbing torrent of water pouring over a bridge. So amazing to see.

After getting all wet (Mommy, I wet my pants), we start back to the cars. We pick up the group waiting in the sun-probably drying themselves out also. Now it is 3½ miles back to the truck. Not too much different than when we came. I talk with Rebecca for a mile and a half-conversation makes the walking seem faster, particularly when you are getting caught up with a friend whom you have not talked to in awhile.

Clouds on the Horizon

I noticed that I was walking pretty good with Rebecca, but far outpacing my hiking partners on this trip. So I said goodbye and started looking around, enjoying the sights in the area. John and John come by pretty soon and I continue my walk. At one place, Bob comes up behind us and comments about a large cave a little ways back. Only after we talked about what he saw, did I mention that was an adit. What is an adit? Told him to talk with John as I just lectured him on it earlier in the walk.

And pretty soon we are back at the cars. Oz and I are going straight back as I will not be eating. Sort of surprised myself as 1) not eating I expected to crash someplace along the walk; 2) lately I have been tired at the end of the walks. Maybe wearing tennis shoes rather than boots helped in both regards. Either way, I felt better. Plus it was a good day to see Stevenson Falls and to hike with friends.